Like stocks, the effects compound for long-term growth.

I’ve always been very ritualistic. For example, before every soccer game from ages 6 to 16, I’d line up my shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and ankle guards, in that order, and proceed to put them on one by one as I slid down my bed.

Without fail, I did this game after game after game.

This ritualistic mentality created the foundation for the role routines play in my life now. I have a morning routine, evening routine, midday routine, and each one provides me with certain long-term benefits I receive from being consistent with such positive processes.

By sticking to these daily tasks, like stocks, the effects compound for long-term growth.

The following recommendations are micro activities you should do for your body every day.

What’s a Micro Activity?

I consider this question about the word “micro” whenever it appears in a piece. Is it a great word? Yes. Is it a personal development buzzword like “atomic” or “mini” or “transform?” Absolutely. But what does it really mean?

Quite literally, it means “extremely small.” But for the purpose of this article, a micro activity will refer to something which takes up no more than 5 minutes of your time.

These short and sweet, “extremely small” activities will behoove your body, and are sure to have positive effects in the long run.

1. Self-Massage

Self-massaging should become a part of your daily musts. It should be as urgent as brushing your teeth or taking a shower.

As we get older, our muscles tighten, and the less we use them and take care of them, the tighter we’ll be. But if we self-massage, these muscles will feel cared for and appreciated.

According to the Mayo Clinic, massage can reduce stress and increase relaxation. It improves circulation, energy, and alertness.

By self-massaging for 5 minutes per day, you give your body the boost it needs to stay vibrant.

2. Rigorous Exercise

Challenge yourself. The benefits of intense exercise are unparalleled and well-documented. And you know what else it does for your body?

It makes it realize it can do so much more. You’re capable of doing so much more than you can ever imagine.

In less than 5 minutes, the goal is to break a sweat. This can be from running, lifting weights, or doing HIIT. It doesn’t matter, so long as you bring intensity and everything you have to that workout.

3. Stretch

According to Harvard Health, “Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints.” It should come as no surprise that stretching is important, but it may surprise you that we should stretch even if we’re not about to do some sort of physical activity.

Regular stretching helps with our posture at work, our walk around the block, moving furniture, or playing with kids. Without it, these activities become all the more challenging.

Try it out for a few minutes per day. You don’t need to hit every single muscle each day, but rather, make sure to hit the lower, middle, and upper extremities. Bit by bit, you will see a change in how you feel, leading to a looser, more nimble self.

4. Floss

Of course, flossing is good for your oral hygiene. It fights plaque, helps prevent gum disease, and it reduces the risk of cavities. But according to The American Heart Association, flossing has additional benefits.

A large 2019 study concluded that participants who adhered to a high standard of oral hygiene had a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Additionally, flossing helps reduce bad breath, which in turn can enhance social confidence and relationship building.

5. Let Loose

Every single day, you should experience 5 minutes of uninterrupted, uninhibited random movement.

Whether this be dancing, galloping, skipping, shaking it out, or otherwise, your body should do whatever it feels like doing without judgment.

Jumping or dancing around can be incredibly stress-relieving. The playful nature helps bring out the inner child and promotes creativity and joy. Giving your body the freedom to let loose is fundamental to your overall health and wellbeing.

6. Be Still

Every activity mentioned thus far involves some sort of movement. Your body loves movement. But every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and the opposite of movement is stillness. We must find a few moments of deliberate stillness throughout our day.

Stillness reduces the response of the sympathetic nervous system, the one responsible for fight or flight in our most stressful situations.

By dedicating ourselves to more stillness, we can find ourselves more at peace and less stressed even by the most extraordinary circumstances.

Extremely Small Activities with Extremely Large Benefits

These activities should become rituals you practice each and every day. Your body will thank you for the energy, joy, and peace you are providing it. Remember to:

Be still;
Let loose;
Stretch;
Floss;
Exercise rigorously;
Self-massage.

The body, the brain, and the soul are all inter-connected. If you’d like some more micro activities for the brain or the soul, visit here or here.

For more mental health and storytelling, download my free ebook.